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Bachelor of Science in Canine Studies

The mission of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Canine Studies (Cynology) is to guide the students’ exploration of the canine species through a vast array of scholarly studies and experiences that expose the uniqueness of the dog’s coveted relationship with humans, while providing an opportunity for students to explore their own species as it evolved through its relationship with the canine, and in so doing, provide a multitude of dog or human aligned job opportunities.

This program is designed to bring the dog into the academic mainstream as a subject of scholarly study. Program objectives include: theoretical and applied studies of the canine toward a goal of promoting and understanding the canine’s unique mind and physical capabilities; contribution to the student’s awareness of the role the dog has played in the arts; advancement of the significance of the dog in society; increased awareness of the human-dog relationship from legal and historical points of view; and examination of the symbiotic relationship between human and canine.

Please Note: Bachelor students are assigned dogs to train and are required to take the dog home at night and on weekends.

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  • Overview

    The bachelor degree program starts once a year, at the beginning of the fall semester. The program requires that students attend courses onsite at Bergin University for four semesters, which is equivalent to two years. Note: Degree students are required to take each semester’s assigned dog home evenings and weekends as a part of their homework hours. The assigned dogs, of differing breeds, personalities and ages, must be housed, fed, exercised, trained and taken on outings. The school provides all equipment and supplies needed. Extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration and other means of meeting this requirement may be arranged. *Accredited universities and colleges require a minimum of 2 hrs. of homework for each course credit hour.


  • Objectives

    Program Objectives for BS in Cynology

    1. To advance the field of Cynology from one based on limited technical, theoretical and scientific knowledge and skills to a field based firmly upon research and willingness and capability to make the most of the true potential of the human-canine partnership;

    2. To provide students with the theoretical basis and practical knowledge to examine and contribute to the expansion of human-canine partnerships;

    3. To examine, understand, and apply research findings to increase the dog’s supporting role in human society;

    4. To gain an in-depth understanding of how to incorporate the dog into today’s complex world, highlighting the ways the dog’s role in our society can continue to expand;

    5. To prepare students for employment opportunities in a variety of human and canine business and corporate management roles, due to their strengthened critical thinking and research abilities; To prepare students to be more effective communicators in the world of business by incorporating the use of verbal skills, body language, and facial expressions as the basis of communication; and

    6. To explore multiple canine-related careers, providing students, upon graduation, with a broad awareness of career choices in the canine world: puppy trainer, owner or manager of a boarding site or dog walking business, scent detection, agility instructor, show dog trainer, search and rescue dog trainer, clicker trainer, trainer of dogs for autism, tracking trainer, clothing manufacturer, pet store operator or manager, and Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration facility dog and canine intervention therapy dog instructors, to name a few.

  • Curriculum

    Bachelo of Science in Cynology Program Curriculum

    The following courses are required for the Bachelor of Science in Cynology degree program. See Course Descriptions in the University Catalog for more information.

    LIF 300 – Playgroups and Enrichment (2 credits: 1.5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 301 - Rescue and Shelter Outcomes (1.5 credits: 1 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 305 - History of Dog Breeds & Training (3 credits)

    LIF 310 - Selection, Breeding & Whelping Strategies (2 credits: 1.5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIIF 311 - Selection, Breeding & Whelping Strategies Supervised Lab (1 supervised lab credit)

    LIF 315 - Environmental Management (2 credits: 1.5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 316 - Environmental Management Supervised Lab (.5 supervised lab credits)

    LIF 320 - Business Management (3 credits)

    LIF 330 - Canine Nutrition (3 credits)

    LIF 335 - Career Considerations (only taken last semester) (.5 credits)

    LIF 340 - Remediating Problem Dogs (1.5 credits: 1 lec, .5lab)

    LIF 345 - History of Dog Laws (3 credits)

    LIF 350 - Dogs in Art, Culture and Religion (2 credits)

    LIF 361 - Canine Health (2 credits: 1.5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 362 -Canine Health Supervised Lab (1 supervised lab credit)

    LIF 380 - Early Puppyhood Education (1.5 credits: 1 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 391 - Assistance Dogs (2.5 credits: 2 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 393 - Dog Rescue & Shelter Program Operations (2 credits: 1.5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 394 - Dog Rescue & Shelter Program Operations Supervised Lab (1 supervised lab credit)

    LIF 395 -Assistance Dogs Supervised Lab (1 supervised lab credit)


    LIF 396 - Affiliated Sporting Service Dog Training (1 credit: .5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 431 - Humans and Canines – Personalities, Emotionality and Language (3 credits)

    LIF 440 - Research & the Dog (3 credits)

    LIF 450 - Genetics vs. Environment (3 credits)

    LIF 488 - Human Animal Support Services (1 credit)

    LIF 488 - Human Animal Support Services (1 credit)

    LIF 460 - Cynomorphic Perspective (3 credits)

    LIF 489 -Managing Group Training Classes (1.5 credits: .5 lec, 1lab)

    LIF 491 - Obedience Training (2 credits: 1.5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 492 - Recreational Scent Detection Training (2 credits: 1.5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 492 - Recreational Scent Detection Training (2 credits: 1.5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 493 - Advanced Concepts in Dog Rescue & Shelter Programs (2 credits: 1.5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 494 - Advanced Concepts in Dog Rescue & Shelter Programs Supervised Lab (1 supervised lab credit)

    LIF 495 - Obedience Training Supervised Lab (1 supervised lab credit)

    LIF 496 - Recreational Scent Detection Training Supervised Lab (1 supervised lab credit)

    LIF 497 - Vocational Scent Detection Training (2 credits: 1.5 lec, .5 lab)

    LIF 498 - Vocational Scent Detection Training Supervised Lab (1 supervised lab credit)

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Expected Learning Outcomes

Students completing the BS degree will demonstrate:
  • Theoretical and applied knowledge of the canine’s unique mind and physical capabilities.
  • Ability to advance the significance of the dog in society by gaining an in-depth understanding about how to incorporate this willing partner into today’s complex world, highlighting the ways the dog’s role in our society can continue to expand.
  • An awareness of the human-dog relationship from legal and historical points of view.
  • An historical, scientific, psychological, and developmental perspective about humankind’s best friend, the dog, while simultaneously examining the roots of this most fascinating synergistic relationship.
  • Awareness that any reference to the canine (or dog) is a testament to between 15,000 and 100,000 years of a symbiotic relationship with humans at their various levels of development.
  • Knowledge of and exposure to the canine in human art and literature.
I have to say that my education at BUCS was the best investment I have ever made. ~Sharon Grant

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Course Requirements

TRANSFER CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
Bergin University's associate and bachelor’s degree programs require that a student fulfill all or most of the programs’ General Education and Elective coursework through a process of enrolling in the courses at another college or postsecondary educational institution, then transferring the completed credits to Bergin University by means of an official transcript of record from the awarding institution. The following requirements apply to all credits and coursework transferred to Bergin University.
  • Coursework must be taken at an institution of higher education accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Or, if transferring from a foreign institution, accredited by the equivalent of the country’s Department of Education.
  • Coursework is verified by the submission of official academic transcript(s) of record from the awarding institution(s). Applicants request that the academic institution(s) from which they took the course work send copies of official transcripts directly to Bergin University's Office of Admissions.
  • All transferred credits are calculated as semester credits. If the submitted transcript indicates that credits are based on quarters, then the credits will be converted to semester credits using the formula of 2/3 x quarter credits = semester credits.
  • All transferable coursework is required to have a grade-point value of 2.0 (“C”) or better
  • Bergin University has no transfer or articulation agreements with other institutions.
  • Coursework must be completed prior to enrollment. Note: An applicant who has not completed all transfer coursework may be permitted to enroll upon consultation with the Chief Academic Officer. However, no student can graduate from a program without fulfilling all coursework and credit requirements including transfer credits. 
Students may be required to provide a catalog record for the school where credit was earned and/or a course outline, establishing that learning outcomes for the coursework are comparable to that required in the course for which it will substitute. No transfer credits will be awarded for prior experiential learning, challenge exams or achievement tests. Transfer requirements for ability-to-benefit students are the same as for all admissions.

Decisions on award of transfer credit is made by the Chief Academic Officer or assigned staff, in consultation with appropriate faculty. Academic credit awarded through “transfer” is not calculated in the overall cumulative GPA for coursework completed at Bergin University, nor is credit applicable toward confirmation of Satisfactory Academic Progress. 

BERGIN UNIVERSITY OF CANINE STUDIES SPECIAL BS TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS
First-year Bachelor of Science students must complete the two-week summer class LIF 210 Intro to Dog Handling course before entering the Bachelor of Science degree program in the fall. Students who have completed the University's summer Service Dog Seminar or who have graduated from the Associate of Science degree program are exempt from this requirement.

Bachelor’s degree transfer of credits requirement:
  • 30 credits of specified General Education coursework
  • 30 credits of Elective coursework​
  • (60 total transfer credits)
  • An Associate degree is not necessary
In addition to these overall transfer requirements, guidelines apply specifically to the bachelor’s degree general education and elective coursework. These guidelines are found in the Course Catalog.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE: ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

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How to Enroll

The full enrollment process and information are in the Admission section of our web site. There you will also find information regarding campus life, costs, and financial aid.

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Bergin University of Canine Studies